Filling apparatus.



K. KIEFER.

FILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9. 1914.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

YT TAT raniar FILLING APPARATUS.

Application filed ul 9,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KARL Kinrnn, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Filling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for fill ing bottles or other containers to uniform height; and its object is to simplify the construction and increase the effectiveness of such apparatus.

4y invention consists in the parts and in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying my invention; 1

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line az-m of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the cup;

Fig. 4: is a horizontal cross section on the line g g of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of the lower part of the inner tube;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectioncorresponding to the section shown in Fig. 2, but showing only the lower. parts of the outer and innertubes, and with the outer tube raised on the inner tube, as in filling; and

Fig. 7 shows a modification of the lower end of the tube.

My improvement comprehends the tube that is inserted into the bottle or container and the parts intimately concerned therewith, and is applicable to filling machines of various constructions. Therefore, the only part of a filling machine proper that is shown is part of a horizontal tubular reservoir 1. It will be understood that a plurality of tubes with their accessory parts may be mounted upon and may communicate with the interior of such a reservoir, which generallyruns transversely of the machine with the filling tubes arranged along the reservoir. This reservoir may be suitably connected to the operative parts of the machine by means of the lug 2 shown in Fig. 2, being, as thus designed, adapted to be reciprocated up and down and, when lowered, inserting the tube into the bottle or container.

My invention as herein set forth is applicable to machines of either type. The invenwhich lowers and raises the tube, but it will Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2@, 1217..

1914.. Serial No. 850,050.

. be understood that the parts comprised in the invention will cooperate in the same manner if the bottle or container is raised to receive-the tube.

The inner tube 3 has its upper end secured in the bushing 4, which is screwed into the lower side of an outlet projection 5 on the reservoir 1, the bushing having a part 6 with fiat sides, to which a wrench may be applied for turning it. The outlet projection 5 has a transverse bore 7 leading into the interior 8 of the reservoir, and the upper end of the inner tube 3 communicates with this bore 7 as best seen in Fig. 2. The outer part of the bore 7 is closed by a plug 9. Flanking the tube 3 are guide rods 10 parallel therewith and with their upper ends fixed in the projection 5 and held by set screws 11. A cup 12 has upper and lower lateral lugs 13 embracing the rods 10, so that the cup may slide up and down on the rods and be guided *thereby. The lower side of the cup 12 has a hub 14; through which projects the outer tube 15, beingtightlyfixed in the hub and extending somedistance above the inner side of the bottom of said cup 12 and with the inner tube 3 extending down through this outer tube 15; At the rear of the cup 12 a short pipe 16 forms a lateral outlet from the cup adjacent to its bottom.

Some distance above the bottom of the cup, its interior diameter is increased so as to form an annular shoulder 17, upon which rests a shallow cup-shaped washer 18, and the inner tube 3 extends through a central opening in this washer 18. The nipple 4 has a plain projection 19 below its nut 6, and an annular shallow cup-shaped washer 20 is inverted and fits around this projection 19. Between the washers 18 and 20 a helical spring 21' is compressed and is held against lateral displacement by the rims of the cup-shaped washers. It will thus be seen that this spring 21 will normally force the cup 12, and the outer tube 15 carried there-' by, downward along the inner tube 3 The lower end of theinner tube 3 is plugged, this plug being soldered or brazed to the inner tube, and the tip 22 has a shank 23 screwed into the plugged lower end of the tube 3, with an elastic washer 24: around the shank. In the modification shown in Fig. 7 the tip 22 is integral with the tube and the washer 24L is slipped over the tip and around the shank 2'3 and held by the shoulder 25 above the tip. In either case,

the elastic washer 24; is of slightly greater radial'extension than'is the lower end of the tube 3, so that it receives and forms a seat for the lower end of the outer tube 15, and limits the downward movement .of this outer tube. Preferably, in the modification, the shoulder 25 is inclined down- Ward radially outward and the shank 23' is downwardly tapered giving the upper side of the washer 24 a corresponding inclination and the required'extension, but allowing the tip '22" to be small enough to slide through the tube'15. The tube 'has its lower end shaped to fit the inclination of the seat. Above its plugged end the tube 3 has a lateral opening 26 which, when the outer tube 15 is down againstthe seat on thewasher,

is closed; but when the outer tube 15 is raised so that its lower end comes above this opening'26, liquid from the reservoir 1 may flow out through the lateral opening 26 into the bottle or container in which the tube may be inserted. r

; upper end of the stop 27 and compressing suitable packing30 therein around the tube 15, said gland being drawn down by screws L 31' passing through it into the stop 27. This clampsthe stop 27 tightly to the tube 15 and forms'an air and liquid tightjoint between the stop andthe outside of the tube. To positively hold the stop 27 in the proper position on the tube, however, a pin 32 passes down through the gland 29 and into a socket 33 in the stop 27 at one side of'the tube, and

has its upper end bearing against the lower side of the bottom of the cup 12. It will be understood that as the stop 27 is positioned higher or lower on the tube 15, this tube and V the inner tube 3 will enter the bottle or container to a greater or less distance;

'As the liquid rises in the bottle or container, the air that was contained in the bottle or container must escape. The gasket 28 forms an air tight closure at the top of the bottleor container, but the device is so designed that the air may escape around the inner tube-3 through the outer tube 15. The

liquid will thus continue to rise until its up 7 'per level reachesthe lower end of the outer V tube 15, whereupon the liquid continuing to flow into the" bottle will merely cause out- 12 .and outthrough the outlet 16. It will thus be jseen thatthe position of this lower end of the outer tube determines the V container. flow of liquid around theinnertube' 3, up through the outer tube 15, and into the cup formed by loosening the screws 31, which permits the stop to slide on the tube, and

then substituting a longer or shorter pin for the pin 32, as described and claimed in my application Serial No. 666,470, filed December 18, 1911. The outlet pipe 16 from the cup 12 may have a flexible tube 3% connecting it with a suitable receptacle for the overflowing liquid, which overflowed liquid may be returned to the reservoir in any suitable manner or may be disposed of in any other suitable manner without wasting the liquid. 7

The inner tube 3 has the greater part of its length of considerably less diameter than the interior of the outer tube 15, but near its lower end the tube 3 is enlarged, preferably by swaging its material outward, forming a rounded shoulder 35. This enlarged part forms a neat sliding fit with the interior of the outer tube 15 and is of such length that the shoulder never is uncovered by the outer tube. Therefore, this enlarged lower end of the inner tube 3 forms an accurate guide for the two tubes 3 and 15 at their lower ends, whereby either one reinforces the other. The annular space left around the smaller main part of the inner tube 3 inside the outer tube 15 forms the passageway for the air and overflow liquid as before referred to; and to form communication from the open lower end of the outer tube 15 up to this annular space, the inner tube has a groove 36 formed in its side, extending a short distance above the shoulder 35 and extending down so far that its lower end is a 5 considerable distance below the open lower end of the outer tube 15 when said outer tube is in its raised position, as best seen in Fig. 6. This enlargement of the lower end of the inner tube 3 and this groove 36 in said tube 10 both may be formed without attaching any additional parts tothe tube 3, and this construction is therefore economical and more reliable in operation.

The upper end of the outer tube 15 eX- tends some distance above the inner bottom of the cup 12 as before described, so that an annular receptacle 37 is formed in the bottom of the cup 12 from which the overflowed liquid cannot flow back through the tube 15, but must fiow out through the outlet 16. This facilitates the prevention of dripping from the lower ends of the tubes as'they are Withdrawn from the bottle or The seating of the lower end of the tube 15 on the elastic washer 24, however, effectively prevents all leakage from either tube.

The material of the washer 2a is preferably well vulcanized, so that it is hard enough to resist wear due to the impact of the lower end of the tube 15 therewith, and yet soft enough to form a liquid-tight connection with said lower end.

The elastic gasket 28 may be of rubber, which may be soft enough to make an effective air and liquid tight joint with the top of the bottle or container, and preferably has its upper side inclined radially outward while the lower side of the stop 27 is plane and horizontal. This allows the outer parts of the gasket 28 to be forced upward so that the lower side of the asket, which normally is plane and horizontal, will become substantially convex, thereby increasing the efficiency of its junction with the top of the bottle or container. This gasket 28 fits around a downwardly extended flange 38 which fits closely around the tube 15, and, as I have previously constructed apparatus of this character, this gasket is held on the stop by this means. However, to support and protect the periphery of the elastic gasket 28, I provide the stop 27 with a downwardly extended peripheral flange surrounding the periphery of the gasket and having, at its lower end, a radially inwardly directed annular lug 39 above which the periphery of the gasket 28 is forced. Thus the gasket is held both near its center and at its periphery against downward displacement from the stop 27. This flange 39 of the stop 27, thus projected slightly below the lower surface of the gasket 28, also forms a baffle against lateral outward Spurting of liquid which ordinarily occurs when *a bottle or container with a defective top is being filled, the defect in the top leaving an opening which the gasket 28 is unable to close. With this battle thus provided, this liquid spurting out between the gasket and the top of the bottle or container is deflected down along the side of the bottle or container, where it is caught on the table or drain board instead of being thrown upon surrounding objects or upon the operator of the machine.

The flanking guide bars 10 reinforce the apparatus, and the tubes 3 and 15, being firn'ily guided with respect to each other near their lower ends, the entire device is well adapted to maintain its alinement, and to resist the strains imposed upon it in operation without getting out of order. At the same time, the entire device is readily dissembled if repairs become necessary, and its general construction is such that it is very economically produced.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In filling apparatus, an inner tube, and means to supply liquid thereto, said inner tube having a lateral outlet near one end, an outer tube surrounding the inner tube, a seat on the end of the inner tube for the end of the outer tube, said outer tube be ing adapted to be moved up from the seat and uncover the lateral outlet of the inner tube, said inner tube for part of its length being of materially less dimension than the interior of the outer tube, forming an annular vent and overflow passage, but said inner tube being enlarged for such a distance from the end having the lateral outlet that the outer tube, in rising to uncover the lateral outlet, does not uncover the enlarged part of the inner tube, and this enlarged part fitting the interior of the outer tube so as to form a guide therefor, and said inner and outer tube having a space between them through which communication is formed from the open lower end of the outer tube to the annular space therein around the inner tube when the outer tube is raised from its seat and uncovers the lateral opening in the inner tube.

2. In filling apparatus, an inner tube, and means to supply liquid thereto, said inner tube having a lateral outlet near one end, an outer tube surrounding the inner tube, a seat on the end of the inner tube for the end of the outer tube, said outer tube being adapted to be moved up from the seat and uncover the lateral outlet of the inner tube, said inner tube for part of its length being of materially less dimension than the inte rior of the outer tube, forming an annular vent and overflow passage, but said inner tube being enlarged for such a distance from the end having the lateral outlet that the outer tube, in rising to uncover the lateral outlet, does not uncover the enlarged part of the inner tube, this enlarged part fitting the interior of the outer tube so as to form a guide therefor, and said inner tube having a groove formed in its side and extending from its portion of lesser dimension along this enlargement to such distance that this groove forms communication from the lower open end of the outer tube into the annular I space therein around the inner tube when said outer tube is raised from its seat and unbcovers the lateral opening in the inner tu e.

3. In filling apparatus, an inner tube, a reservoir in which the inner tube is fixed and with the interior of which it communicates, an outer tube surrounding the inner tube, opening and closing means and guiding means for the tubes near their lower ends, a guide bar fixed in the reservoir parallel to said tubes, a cup in which the outer tube is fixed and into the interior of which its upper end opens, said cup having an outlet, means on the cup engaging with the guide bar, whereby the cup may slide along the guide bar, a helical spring surrounding the inner tube above the upper end of the outer tube and alined with said tubes and with its lower end inside the cup, means held 'in the cup and receiving the lower end of the spring,and means around the inner tube nearits junction with the reservoir receiving, the upper end of the spring,and said me'ans receiving the ends of the spring maintaining its alinement with said tubes.

4. 111 filling apparatus, an inner tube, a reservoir in which the inner tube is fixed and'with the'interior of which it communicates, an outer tube surrounding the inner tube, opening and closing means and guiding means for the tubes near their lower ends, a guidelbar fixed in the reservoir parallel to said tubes, a cup in which the outer tube is fixed and into'the interior of which its upper end opens, said cup having an outlet,means on the cup engaging with the guide bar, whereby the cup may slide along the guide'bar, a helical spring surrounding the inner tube above the upper end of the outer tube and alined with said tubes and with its lower end inside the cup, means held in the cup and receiving the lower end of. the spring,means around the inner tube near. 1ts]unct1on with the reservoir receiving the upper end of the spring, and said means receiving the ends of the spring mainv taining its alinement with said tubes, the

' 5;;In filling means-to supply liquid thereto, sald inner 7 tube having a lateral outlet near one end,

an outer tubesurrounding the inner tube, said tubes being capable of relative movementso-that the outer tube covers and unq covers said lateral outlet, a shank on the end of the inner tube, a tip on the shank with a shoulder presented toward the inner tube around the shank, and an elastic washer slipped over the tip onto the shank and extending radially past the lower end of the inner tube and forming a seat for the lower end of the outer tube when said outer tube covers said outlet, said tlp belng of a d1- mension permitting it to slide through said outer tube.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for 6. In filling apparatus, an inner tube, and means to supply liquid thereto, said inner tube having a lateral outlet near one end, an outer tube surrounding the inner tube, said tubes being capable of relative movement so that the outer tube covers and uncovers said lateral outlet, a shank on the end of the inner tube, a tip on the shank with a shoulder presented toward the inner tube around the shank, an elastic washer slipped over the tip onto the shank and extending radially past the lower end of the inner tube and forming a seat for the lower end of the outer tube when said outer tube covers said outlet, said tip being of dimension permitting it to slide through said outer tube, said shoulder on the tip being downwardly inclined radially outward, and said elastic washer as held by said shoulder being correspondingly inclined outward so that its upper side forms said seat as aforesaid.

7. In filling apparatus, an inner tube, and means to supply liquid thereto, said inner tube having a lateral outlet near one end,

an outer tube surrounding the inner tube, said tubes being capable of relative movement so that the outer tube covers and uncovers said lateral outlet, a shank on the end of: the inner tube, a tip on the shank with a shoulder presented toward the inner tube around the shank, an elastic washer slipped over the tip onto the shank and extending radially past the lower end of the inner tube and forming a seat for the lower end of the outer tube when said outer tube covers said outlet, said tip being of dimension permitting it to slide through said outer tube, said shoulder on the tip being downwardly inclined radially outward, said shank being tapered downwardly from the end of the tube to said shoulder, and said elastic washer, as held by said shoulder around said tapered shank, having its upper part extended to form said seat as aforesaid.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

KARL KIEFER. lVitnesses CLARENCE Pnnnnw, OTTO F. TINKELMANN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 7 Washington, D. C. 

